Albania Overboard is a 3 km charity sea swim, coast to coast, from Albania to Corfu. The funds raised by the swim will turbocharge the actions of the Ionian Environment Foundation’s marine conservation projects. Four diverse projects have been selected - from monitoring dolphins and Posidonia meadows mapping to delivering interactive marine education in remote Ionian schools. The projects all promote the long-term viability and health of the beautiful Ionian Sea through which we will swim.

To sign up and swim, or to find out more about Albania Overboard and their mission - click HERE.

Read on more for more details about these projects...

1. Ocean’s Education For Remote Ionian Schools

This educational program is being implemented in hard-to-reach schools of the Ionian Islands, providing over 800 primary school children the opportunity to learn marine conservation. In doing so, we are ensuring these children feel included in the discourse of marine conservation and have opportunities to be actively engaged in finding solutions.

Learn more HERE.

2. REPOSIDONIA – Seagrass Meadow Protection

Posidonia oceanica seagrass is essential for marine ecosystems, offering habitats to numerous species, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing water quality. The Posidonia meadows in NE Corfu's Erimtis region alone host over 82 marine species and store approximately 600 tonnes of carbon. iSea's Reposidonia project seeks to enhance conservation efforts for Posidonia seagrass by improving data on its distribution in the Ionian Islands and identifying areas requiring immediate intervention to safeguard Posidonia seagrass and protect the species it hosts.

Learn more HERE.

3. Ionian Dolphin Project

Dolphins in the Ionian Islands play a vital ecological role as indicators of marine ecosystem health, contributing to the region's biodiversity and captivating visitors with their charismatic presence. The Ionian Dolphin Project aims to provide new evidence and key information on the actual status of the common dolphins and the bottlenose dolphins in the central part of the Ionian Islands. Their efforts will contribute to identifying the most adequate measures to promote the conservation of dolphins and see their numbers rebound.

Learn more HERE.

4. Sustainability in Sailing Pack

While practiced by many sea lovers, recreational boating has many detrimental impacts on the marine environment and coastal communities. The Ionian region has seen a huge growth in boats available for charter. Still, very limited information is available for users on good practices and how to avoid actions that will damage the marine environment, especially the destruction of Posidonia meadows. The Sustainable Sailing Pack will contain information on the Greek marine fauna and flora, how to avoid negative impacts when boating, responsible practices on board and shore, and how tourists can support conservation efforts, for example, by reporting sightings of mammals to the relevant organisations.

Learn more HERE.

Thank you for reading through! IEF is so thankful for the support of Albania Overboard! And we look forward to swimming with you!